Perfectly prepared for gracing an ’80s high school parking lot, this 1971 Oldsmobile 442 enters the market after a lengthy slumber in storage. The staggered five-slot mags and 70/60 series tires, wing, “442” badges, and rust spots combine to recall simpler times when this imperfect muscle car would have handily laid waste to fellow students’ anemic parental shuttlecraft. This Scottsdale, Arizona classic might go for cheap here on eBay. Tepid bidding has pledged just above $2,500 for this 442.
The VIN decoder at tpocr confirms a factory 442. With no engine pictures and a spartan listing, we can only hope that the original 455 cid (7.5L) V8 remains under the hood. The seller says it cranks but they did not try to start it for fear of damaging the engine’s internals. Despite losing some compression after the horsepower peak of 1970, the 455 made a healthy 340 HP for ’71 according to Wikipedia. The two-tone interior suits the dessert climate and makes a nice alternative to the been-there, done-that black vinyl abyss.
Though likely non-functional and scraping a few MPH off the car’s top speed, the trunk wing adds a layer of cool to your summer cruising. Though originally denoting a four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhaust, “442” bent to the will of Oldsmobile marketing. For 1971 it meant “Four Wheels, Four Tires, and Two Turn Signals.” Not really, but in every variation, “442” did mean “A sporty Oldsmobile.”
The trio of department store gauges and bird’s nest of wires continues the high school theme. The dangling air freshener makes a feeble attempt to conceal sweet remnants of reefer. Air conditioning and a factory radio in the never-chopped dash count as plusses for this forgotten Olds. The front and center concealable cigarette lighter and giant ashtray pay homage to a time when the joys and benefits of smoking were just starting to be called into question. You might keep the stock radio and slip a single-DIN Bluetooth number in place of the dashboard’s Smoking Area. The 42-word listing leaves many questions unanswered. What’s your top bid for what you see here?
It may be in AZ now, but didn’t start life here.
The HS references hit home w/ me Todd, I graduated in ’75 and the parking lot was littered w/ Chevelles, Cuda’s. Roadrunners, and even a 442.
If the $$ stays reasonable, a worthy project for sure…
Same here about the high school references. This would also look equally at home in a 1970s HS parking lot.
I have vivid memories of taking a near death ride (circa 1979) in a similar 442. It was the fastest car I ever had been in; the driver had no fear or common sense.
I had a 70 442 in high school, arguably the fastest car in school at the time. I graduated in 80. My 442 had the standard 455 but the previous owner had installed a W30 cam. It also had the 4 speed. My car also had the “Tick Tock Tach” and 6500 rpm in 4th gear wasn’t uncommon in a few drag races. I remember flying down some road in my small town of Morro Bay with the throttle pinned (to your “no common sense” point…). I ran over a few bumps in the road and the rear wheels broke loose and the rear drifted to the right, all while at 60 miles an hour in 3rd gear. Loved that car, but I was lucky to survive it. If this car was a 70 442 I’d be serious about bidding.
Those ashtray doors are a real pain, they were a Rube Goldberg idea. Smart thinking, putting it right over the radio too.
I think the guy who designed those ashtrays went to work for Dodge in the 90’s, and placed the cup holders right over the radio in the Ram pickups
Got a soft spot for this period Olds.
HS buddy bought 1 for $400.
Green interior B/M shifter buckets no console circa oh 1983.
Aluminium slots 50’s on the back.
Blew it up. First motor swap are Sophomore year. Good times.
A guy from high school had a blue one with white tape accents and was a 442. Another friend drove a 1970 Chevelle SS with the cowl induction with a 396, and the 442 smoked him. He snapped a timing chain and didn’t feel like fixing it, he wanted $1200.00. I begged my parents to loan me the money, but you know what happened, a resounding NO. Granted, I was only 16, and was making $2.35 an hour at McDonald’s. But I could just see myself behind the wheel. This was 1979, and my high parking lot looked like a scene out of ” Dazed and Confused “. I hear the song ” Glory Days ” playing in the background. Good times.
That’s a LOT of rust for a car in AZ. The VIN shows it was born at the Arlington, TX plant. I don’t know what the reserve is, but there’s a lot of sheet metal to be replaced.
I remember senior year in 1987 riding along with a friend in his 1970 Nova, His car was pretty fast for the neighborhood. We pulled up next to an “old guy” in a 442 like this. The light turned green and got a lesson. That thing was fast! Good memories.
“School’zzz out for Summer!!”
Always liked that Alice Cooper tune and this youngmobile wears the shoes for sure. Oddly enough, I can picture a few of my teachers driving an old beater like this when I was in high school, class of ’84.
Nice old ride.
My brother after coming back from Vietnam (he was seriously wounded there) bought a 1972 Olds 442 with the 455 V8. He was debating it vs a Chevelle SS 396. Anyway, HE STILL has it. Its still about the coolest car I ever rode in!.
how can i bid on this or any other car,?